Valentine Cookies? Ooh la la!

So I was wandering around the blogosphere today and came across some cookies from How does She.

They were called Valentine cookies rated "G", "PG", "PG-13"

Follow this link to see them.   HowDoesShe.com

Any how I realized that they were the same cookies that I had done with a friend for a lingerie bridal shower in October of 2009. I didn't realize that they would make a great Valentine cookie, for your sweetie. (but not for the kids classroom party at school) 

Here are the cookies we came up with. I really loved how they turned out. How Does She has some great ideas on creating things with lace. 

You really should check them out if you plan on making these cookies. 

 We bagged and dressed them up, with a tag. Then handed them out as favors.

I think I had more fun making these cookies than any others I have ever done. And I assure you they were definitely a hit! I think a few of the ladies took one home to their hubbies.   

I have linked up to 

January Photos of the Month 2011

So I decided to go ahead and continue with the photos of the month. I think I am too lazy or busy or something like that to do the popular 365 photo challenge that everyone seems to be doing these days. I figure that this method worked for me last year so I am going to continue with it. 

 Icicles 2 different days, 2 different ways.

E's latest sculpture, a mouse with swiss cheese. Actually I was thinking a cute little mouse but what she gave me was more like a rat!

Ash, thought that the dog needed reading glasses. 

My world covered in snow looking like a giant marshmallow. 

E, Made a dog house from a box. The dog never did go inside!

One more sculpture. Give a dog a bone!

Tag your it!

1. Four shows that you watch:
~ Chuck
~ The Middle
~ Better With You
~Modern Family

2. Four things you are passionate about:
~ My Husband
~ My Kids
~ Being a servant
~ My God (not last but the foundation)

3. Four words/phrases you say a lot:
~ Are you kidding me?
~ Seriously? 
~ That's ridiculous! 
~ I love you!

4. Four things you've learned from the past:
~ Not to worry about tomorrow, it will take care of itself.
~ Live in the moment.
~ Laugh every chance you get.
~ a Night out with the girls makes me a better wife and mother. 

5. Four places you would like to go:
~ somewhere warm
~ california
~italy
~spain

6. Four things you did yesterday:
~went to church
~ went to lunch
~spent the afternoon alone with my husband
~ made cookies

7. Four things you are looking forward to:
~ spring
~ chickens
~ getting my craft/ school/ office organized
~Fresh Garden tomatoes

8. Four things you love about winter:
~Sweaters
~hot tea
~my electric blanket
~ When the snow covers everything and it looks like a giant marshmallow 

Toasty Fingers Glove Swap update

So I received my package yesterday. I LOVED IT! I ended up getting longer pink gloves with cute buttons on the side. Burt's Bees moisturizer, Dove and Lindt chocolates, Tazo Zen tea which is my most favorite, and Tazo Awake tea, all packaged in a cute little basket.

This is the swap package that I sent to my partner Jen. 

It had a necklace, tea, bandana, hat and scarf set, 3 pair of gloves, 2 pr. funky socks, hair ties, key chain mirror, and nail file.  I had a lot of fun hunting for swap goodies. 

Here is the pictures Jen sent me of her wearing her swap goodies!

 And Jack got the bandana which I think looks adorable!

For all of you ladies that came to swap, Thanks! I hope you had fun. 

beautiful cold

I am not the type of person who finds much to appreciate in the bitter cold winter months. However the girl in me likes all things sparkling and shiny. The first day after a snow fall and the world looks like a giant marshmallow covered wonderland. And when the sun hits it just right, it sparkles! I appreciate that. 

And when the sun finally comes out of exile and shines it's beautiful light on the long icicles hanging from the eves. I appreciate that! We just came out of a deep freeze. 16 or 17 days below freezing, and now we hit our much deserved January thaw! These pictures were taken the day before the thaw started. We had ice and snow sticking off the house about 2 feet and then it started it's beautiful icicle formations from the edge of that. Some were under the icy overhang.

The view from my kitchen window. 

 This one is eye level. you can see the longest of the icicle formations. Before it was all said and done this one was about a foot longer than shown.  Directly behind the brown bottle, the ice is encasing the main electrical service wires coming into the house.  When J went out to clear some of this on Saturday,  the whole gutter came down. It was a huge long block of ice. Fortunately when it fell there was no damage done. 

December Photos of the Month

Here they are, "better late than never", I always say.

The kids filled the advent house with Lego mini figs.

 I think this will end up being a Christmas card next year!

Skye LOVES playing in the snow for 5 minutes.

Our tree this year. mostly paper hand made ornaments.

 A few lights and a popcorn garland.

Christmas cookies, some of the ideas came from blogs I follow. 

Others were our own designs. 

Experimenting with my camera. I never got the desired effect.

 Not happy with the technical aspects,

But I love the way this photo makes me feel. Cozy!

Snow on December 30th, 2010 at 6am.

Snow Babies on December 30th, 2010 at 8 am. 

Snow Babies on December 30th, 2010 at 8:50 am.

(E with her cousin S)

Well that was the last installment of the "2010 Year in Photos"  I'm not sure if I should continue to do it or not. I really enjoyed it. I didn't think I would follow through with it for the entire year. BUT I did! I wonder sometimes if I could do a photo of the week post? too much work? Not enough dedication? Maybe if it ain't broke I shouldn't try to fix it. I will have to ponder this for a few days. 

Toasty Fingers Glove Swap

This swap closes Wednesday January 5th. Sign up by leaving me a comment in the post just below this.